Life can be loud, and for the littlest ears, that noise isn’t just deafening—it’s dangerous. As you and your young family move through life—from flying on a noisy plane to attending a thunderous sporting event—protecting your baby’s ears is paramount. Here are the 10 best noise cancelling headphones for babies, with options to suit every budget.
1. Lil Gadgets Untangled Pro
These remarkable Lil Gadgets Untangled Pro Bluetooth headphones are sized perfectly for your little one and will not only keep out the noises of the world, but will also protect their hearing while they listen to music, movies or audiobooks. Whether you’re leaving for vacation or hanging at home, your child will appreciate the SoftTouch breathable mesh of the Lil Gadgets headphones, which makes wearing them for extended periods of time (up to 12 hours on one charge) extremely comfortable. Thanks to SharePort, a one-of-a-kind feature, multiple kids can enjoy the Bluetooth connectivity of a single pair of Lil Gadgets Untangled Pro headphones. Bonus: A portion of each sale is directed to bullying prevention in schools.
2. Baby Banz Headphones
Baby Banz earmuff headphones are perfect for newborns and children as old as 2. These cool-looking earmuffs have an industry-leading noise reduction rating of NRR 31db, meaning they block more harmful noises than any other earmuffs on the market today. Easily the best noise canceling headphones for babies, the lightweight design of Baby Banz ear defenders makes protecting your baby’s hearing a snap, and the soft padding makes your baby comfortable while wearing the earmuffs on planes, trains and automobiles.
3. HearTek Kids Ear Protection Noise Reduction Earmuffs
These baby headphones for planes have a 27db NRR, safeguarding the littlest ears during live concerts, flights, firework shows and loud sporting events. The adjustable band of the HearTek noise reduction earmuffs provides a snug fit for kids of every age, size and shape. The padded style and rotating ear cups are comfortable to wear and soundproof enough to protect young ears. Foldable for easy storage in the included travel bag and available in an array of colors, HearTek is a fine choice for family travel. It’s also beneficial for those with sensory challenges.
4. Muted Designer Hearing Protection Infant Earmuffs
Beautiful designs provide a stylish look for hip babies, plus all the hearing protection you could ask for in these Muted Designer headphones that check every box on a parent’s wishlist. One of the best noise cancelling headphones for babies, rated to 27db and meeting ANSI requirements, these Muted Designer infant earmuffs provide extra hearing protection for kids with autism and other sensory sensitivities. They travel well too, thanks to lightweight construction and collapsibility for easy packing, and the adjustable soft headband and cushioning around the ears will make everyone from toddler to teen comfortable, quiet and calm whenever the world gets way too loud.
Related: 11 Best Headphones for Kids, According to an Expert
5. Dr. Meter EM100 Kids Protection Earmuffs with Noise Blocking
Dr. Meter kids earmuffs have a NRR 27db rating, providing reliable hearing protection for the most delicate, young and sensitive kids. With an adjustable headband and soft, comfortable pads that cover ears gently but completely, these are some of the best noise cancelling headphones for babies. The 27 NRR noise reduction rating is perfect for protecting from the commotion common in airports and on flights, as well as the cacophonous sounds of everyday life.
6. Vanderfields Earmuffs for Kids
Snug and comfortable, Vanderfields Earmuffs are the best budget pair of baby noise canceling headphones and a convenient 90-day money back guarantee makes trying these noise canceling headphones for your babies risk-free! When wearing the earmuffs, your child will be protected from the overwhelming sounds of life, from mom mowing the lawn in the yard to the family vacation on a noisy airplane. These affordable earmuffs have a Noise Reduction Rating of 26NRR, thanks to two layers of proprietary noise dampening foam in a solid single-cup design.
7. Mpow 068 Kids Ear Protection Noise Reduction Earmuffs
Perfectly suited for kids ages 3 to 12 and thanks to the padded headband’s fully adjustable retractable stainless steel design, the Mpow noise reduction earmuffs have a NRR of 25db. The noise-dampening sponge, soft-ear cushions and solid ABS ear cups that seal around the ears will be hard at work protecting young children from the bombastic sound of everything from obviously loud monster truck rallies to sneakily deafening Disney theme parks. This pair of the noise cancelling headphones is built to last for your kid’s whole childhood and comfortable enough that they won’t complain about wearing them for the entire soccer match or flight to your next family vacation destination.
8. Zohan Ear Protection Noise Reduction Earmuffs
For every child from toddler to teen, these gorgeously designed budget-friendly noise reduction earmuffs are a true value even if the amount of noise they keep out of little ears isn’t as much as others on this list. If you expect to be in only mildly loud surroundings, like on short flights and at high school sporting events, the Zohan earmuffs, with a 22db NRR, are a fine and affordable choice to keep your baby’s hearing well protected while also being a style icon in either the pink Unicorn or Nebula outer space graphic pattern.
9. Snug Kids Earmuffs
With adorable designs at a price most can afford, these Snug kids earmuffs keep loud noises away from baby’s ears. Every parent knows that kids will not stand for anything that isn’t comfortable or cool looking! So the Snug kids earmuffs rank as one of the best noise cancelling headphones for babies because of artwork featuring owls, pineapples and robots. But more importantly, they rank well because of the padded ear cushions (which sit perfectly on ears), lightweight materials to not feel like a helmet on their little heads, and protection from every sound the world can serve up.
10. AmazonBasics Kids Safety Noise Earmuffs
Expect solid performance without the frills from AmazonBasics safety earmuffs, delivering 20db NRR in a clean, comfortable package. If price is your main concern, AmazonBasics Kids Safety Noise Earmuffs are the choice for balancing hearing and ear protection. There’s the standard adjustable headband, noise-dampening sponge material and cushioned earmuffs in compact, inexpensive packaging, perfect for a child of any age.
Related: 10 Best Headphones for Moms and Dads
Jeff Bogle lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife, two daughters, and three cats. He is an award-winning photographer and respected travel journalist with bylines on Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, PBS, Esquire and more. Jeff (probably) spends too much time in England watching football and far too many hours plotting his family’s future travel adventures. Find Jeff on his own site, Out With the Kids.
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